Featured – TheSouthAfrica.co.za – News Networkhttps://thesouthafrica.co.za
News, Views and Interviews from South African and around the World.Mon, 10 Dec 2018 07:56:36 +0000en-ZAhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8FirstRand takes a leaf from Amazon’s book to capture consumershttps://thesouthafrica.co.za/firstrand-takes-a-leaf-from-amazons-book-to-capture-consumers/
Mon, 10 Dec 2018 07:56:36 +0000http://thesouthafrica.co.za/?p=16428FirstRand is emulating Amazon.com with a digital offering that will span everything from insurance, car license renewals to locating plumbing services as the South African bank chases new revenue sources. Africa’s biggest lender by market value is pushing customers to make more use of its mobile-banking applications by extending the services it offers through “applets” …

]]>FirstRand is emulating Amazon.com with a digital offering that will span everything from insurance, car license renewals to locating plumbing services as the South African bank chases new revenue sources.

Africa’s biggest lender by market value is pushing customers to make more use of its mobile-banking applications by extending the services it offers through “applets” within the main interface, Chief Executive Officer Alan Pullinger said in an interview at Bloomberg’s Johannesburg offices.

These include connecting home buyers and sellers, house valuations, tracking an investment portfolio or linking its business clients to consumers.

“We’re wanting to become more of an Amazon-like business, which is a platform player,” rather than an operation like Walmart that relies on physical branches, the CEO said. “We want to solve for everything, your financial wellness. We see runway for ourselves with our strategy.”

Revenue at FirstRand has grown at double the pace of its three largest Johannesburg-based African peers in the past five years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

Pullinger, 53, attributed that to improving the number of products used across 8 million clients, a jump in transactional volumes, and increased use of the app of its consumer unit, First National Bank, which saw a 65% surge in transactions in the year through June.

]]>Power crisis: time for Eskom to play open cards, says DAhttps://thesouthafrica.co.za/power-crisis-time-for-eskom-to-play-open-cards-says-da/
Mon, 10 Dec 2018 07:54:23 +0000http://thesouthafrica.co.za/?p=16425It is time for Eskom to play open cards with South Africans who deserve clarity and honesty with regards to the current power crisis, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday. The DA noted conflicting reports surrounding the current crisis at Eskom and believed that South Africans deserved clarity with regards to the many theories, explanations, …

]]>It is time for Eskom to play open cards with South Africans who deserve clarity and honesty with regards to the current power crisis, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday.

The DA noted conflicting reports surrounding the current crisis at Eskom and believed that South Africans deserved clarity with regards to the many theories, explanations, and excuses provided by Eskom during these “very dark days”, DA spokeswoman Natasha Mazzone said.

“There are many reasons for the power failures South Africans are now being forced to endure, ranging from state capture and a lack of coal, to allegations of irregular tenders and Eskom’s use of companies that are unable to provide the services Eskom so desperately needs,” she said.

“For the sake of clarity and transparency the DA calls on Eskom to provide a list of all the companies it has taken action against with regards to incorrect tender processes. We also call on Eskom to inform South Africans whether it has applied for any urgent interdicts to stop contracts which result in coal shortages.”

The underlying problem, regardless of the current crisis, was that the structure of Eskom inevitably needed to change.

Eskom had proven it was incapable of delivering power to South Africans within its current operational model, and it had proven so, time and again in many different ways, Mazzone said.

– Eskom recently failed to communicate clearly with PetroSA, a simple mechanism which could have alleviated the degree of load shedding currently being experienced;

– Money for plant maintenance was redirected towards Gupta-linked firms in 2015, resulting in new and higher upkeep costs in 2018;

– The Eskom wage bill and its other finances were out of control; and

– Poor project management at Medupi and Kusile power stations doubled the costs of the building process.

“Eskom is an entity which finds itself in a state of complete collapse and the only thing that can save it is if the entire structure changes. The mess we currently find ourselves in with Eskom is undoubtedly a result of an ANC which has allowed corruption and irregularities to manifest within our state-owned enterprises. South Africans deserve clarity and honesty with regards to this crisis,” Mazzone said.

]]>22 people dead in 12 hours on KwaZulu-Natal roadshttps://thesouthafrica.co.za/22-people-dead-in-12-hours-on-kwazulu-natal-roads/
Mon, 10 Dec 2018 07:51:44 +0000http://thesouthafrica.co.za/?p=16422Twenty-two people died on KwaZulu-Natal roads on Saturday, with one accident on the N2 near Empangeni claiming 15 lives alone. Preliminary investigation revealed that a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota Quantum collided head-on, killing 14 people instantly. A team of investigators and forensic experts has been assembled to establish the cause of the accident, according …

A team of investigators and forensic experts has been assembled to establish the cause of the accident, according to KwaZulu-Natal transport, community safety, and liaison MEC Mxolisi Kaunda.

Additionally, the transport department would send a team of engineers to conduct an assessment along that stretch of road to establish if additional safety measures were required.

Visiting the scene of the accident on Sunday, Kaunda said he had instructed law enforcement officers to clamp down on reckless drivers.

Earlier on Saturday, another fatal crash occurred in Appelsbosch, north of Durban, which claimed the lives of seven people.

Kaunda said that the incidents would not deter the province from its commitment to reducing road accidents and fatalities by over 10 percent during the festive season and beyond.

“Yesterday [Saturday], we launched an integrated safety plan which focuses on high law enforcement visibility in all hazardous spots in the province. We are going to clamp down on drinking and driving, speeding, unroadworthy vehicles, and unlicensed drivers,” Kaunda said.

Kaunda visited the survivors of the N2 crash at Ngwelezane Hospital and sent his condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased. He pledged government support in ensuring that all the dead were given dignified burials.

He called on citizens of KwaZulu-Natal, particularly road users, to work closely with government to reduce road accidents.

“We will win the battle against fatal crashes if we work together and speak in one voice that road crashes should not be part of our lives. Let us all join hands and ensure that each one of us abides by the rules of the road,” said Kaunda.

]]>Petrol price will decrease by up to R1.84c per litrehttps://thesouthafrica.co.za/petrol-price-will-decrease-by-up-to-r1-84c-per-litre/
Sun, 02 Dec 2018 07:12:35 +0000http://thesouthafrica.co.za/?p=16419South Africans will be paying R1.84c less in Gauteng for a litre of both grades 93 and 95 of petrol from Wednesday, according to the department of energy. Diesel will decrease by R1.45c and R1.47c, while illuminating paraffin will decrease R1.33c and R1.87c. Earlier in the month the Automobile Association had estimated that the price …

]]>Corruption case postponed, Zuma hits out at enemies and urges supporters to vote for ANChttps://thesouthafrica.co.za/corruption-case-postponed-zuma-hits-out-at-enemies-and-urges-supporters-to-vote-for-anc/
Sat, 01 Dec 2018 07:21:55 +0000http://thesouthafrica.co.za/?p=16415Former president Jacob Zuma said his lawyers wanted to see his fraud and corruption case dropped. He was speaking to supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday where his case was postponed to 20 May next year to allow the court time to consider his application for a permanent stay of prosecution. Among the …

]]>Former president Jacob Zuma said his lawyers wanted to see his fraud and corruption case dropped.

He was speaking to supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday where his case was postponed to 20 May next year to allow the court time to consider his application for a permanent stay of prosecution.

Among the allegations against the former President was that he had received a R500 000 bribe from French Arms company Thales which had secured a multi-billion rand contract to supply four navy frigates to the government as part of the controversial arms deal

Addressing the cheering crowd after his court appearance, Zuma said even though some individuals in the African National Congress had turned against him, they should continue to support the governing party to ensure that it gets a two-thirds majority in next year’s election.

He said this would allow the ANC to change laws that prevent the poor from benefiting from the country’s wealth.

Zuma implored his supporters to look beyond the squabbles and remain loyal to the ANC, which he said was the only hope for poor people to end their suffering.

]]>Eight-year-old boy dies after goal posts fall on himhttps://thesouthafrica.co.za/eight-year-old-boy-dies-after-goal-posts-fall-on-him/
Sat, 01 Dec 2018 07:18:42 +0000http://thesouthafrica.co.za/?p=16412An eight-year-old boy died today after he was crushed by goal posts in Durban north, KwaZulu-Natal paramedics said. Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said paramedics responded to reports of a head injury at around 6.04pm at a sports club. “Reports from the scene indicate that an eight-year-old male was busy playing soccer when the goal …

]]>An eight-year-old boy died today after he was crushed by goal posts in Durban north, KwaZulu-Natal paramedics said.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said paramedics responded to reports of a head injury at around 6.04pm at a sports club.

“Reports from the scene indicate that an eight-year-old male was busy playing soccer when the goal posts fell over crushing the patient,” Herbst said.

“A full advanced life support resuscitation was initiated, however the child’s injuries were too severe and he was sadly declared deceased on the scene. Circumstances leading up to the goal posts falling are being investigated by the Durban north [SA Police Service] SAPS, who were on the scene.”

]]>‘Gigaba lied to Parliament over SAA financials’, commission hearshttps://thesouthafrica.co.za/gigaba-lied-to-parliament-over-saa-financials-commission-hears/
Fri, 30 Nov 2018 08:03:28 +0000http://thesouthafrica.co.za/?p=16409While director-general at the department of public enterprises, former Eskom CEO Tshediso Matona, tried to persuade South African Airways to support the now defunct The New Age (TNA) newspaper after the national carrier’s bid adjudication committee turned it down, former SAA board chairperson Cheryl Carolus testified before the state capture commission on Thursday. Then CEO …

]]>While director-general at the department of public enterprises, former Eskom CEO Tshediso Matona, tried to persuade South African Airways to support the now defunct The New Age (TNA) newspaper after the national carrier’s bid adjudication committee turned it down, former SAA board chairperson Cheryl Carolus testified before the state capture commission on Thursday.

Then CEO Sizakele Mzimela had established a bid adjudication committee to ensure fairness and transparency in tender processes, and opted not to subscribe to the newspaper as it did not meet the business criteria for SAA, she said. Carolus received a phone call from Matona from the public enterprises department, led by ex-minister Malusi Gigaba at the time.

Matona requested a meeting with her saying that the SAA bid adjudication committee handled the newspaper subscription decision unsatisfactorily. Carolus said she was reluctant to meet the former Eskom boss and inquired from Mzimela what the matter was all about. The former CEO told Carolus she did not have any information as she was not involved in the bid adjudication process.

“I never got to know the details of that matter because it was the work of that committee, just as Ms Mzimela, I never got involved in the work of the committee. Myself and Ms Mzimela met with Matona, and there was Gigaba’s legal adviser Mr Mahlangu there too. I told Matona I had no interest in newspaper buying,” she said.

Matona told her that as a new media house, TNA — established by the fugitive Gupta family in 2010 — needed to be supported.

“He said TNA was [a] new entrant in [the] media scene and that media diversity should be supported. I told him that was laudable, but me and Ms Mzimela were actually upset that we had to drop everything we were doing only to be told about newspapers.”

Commission chairman Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo told Carolus that according to former government spokesman Jimmy Manyi, he ordered directors general to buy advertisement at TNA while at the helm at GCIS.

“Maybe Mr Matona also got the directive as issued by Mr Manyi to support TNA,” said Zondo.

Carolus said SAA never took part in TNA business breakfasts as management believed that “spending millions in of taxpayers’ money on breakfasts was not their mandate”.

Matona had only been the power utility’s CEO for seven months when the board suspended him, and then booted him out. At the time, former president Jacob Zuma told Matona he was earmarked to lead the National Planning Commission.

]]>Eskom implements stage 2 loadsheddinghttps://thesouthafrica.co.za/eskom-implements-stage-2-loadshedding/
Fri, 30 Nov 2018 08:00:13 +0000http://thesouthafrica.co.za/?p=16406Eskom announced on Friday that it would implement 13 hours of stage 2 load shedding between 09:00 and 22:00. The rotational power cuts are “as a result of loss of additional units overnight”. “Stage 2 calls for 2 000MW to be rotationally load shed at any given period. Load shedding is conducted rotationally as a …

]]>Eskom announced on Friday that it would implement 13 hours of stage 2 load shedding between 09:00 and 22:00.

The rotational power cuts are “as a result of loss of additional units overnight”.

“Stage 2 calls for 2 000MW to be rotationally load shed at any given period. Load shedding is conducted rotationally as a measure of last resort to protect the power system from a total collapse or blackout,” Eskom said in a statement.

“We encourage residents and businesses to please use electricity sparingly to ease the demand of electricity. Please switch off geysers during the day as well as all nonessential lighting and electricity appliances to assist in reducing demand.”

]]>Iconic Blue Train adds a second observation carhttps://thesouthafrica.co.za/iconic-blue-train-adds-a-second-observation-car/
Mon, 26 Nov 2018 13:23:40 +0000http://thesouthafrica.co.za/?p=16402The Blue Train is pleased to announce the addition of an Observation Car to its second train set. The second train set has been updated, the 15 carriages, reaching a total length of 328 metres. The observation car with its wide panels at the back of the train is one of the very picturesque experiences …

]]>The Blue Train is pleased to announce the addition of an Observation Car to its second train set. The second train set has been updated, the 15 carriages, reaching a total length of 328 metres. The observation car with its wide panels at the back of the train is one of the very picturesque experiences that draws many to The Blue Train.

Speaking on this new addition, Vincent Monyake, Executive Manager of The Blue Train said, “Our guests and clients spoke, and we listened. We are pleased that our second train set is updated and guests on either train will have The Blue Train’s quintessential viewing experience, complete with the wide-angle viewing at the end of the train. Travelling through South Africa’s sweeping landscapes takes a different form with the majestic view from the Observation Car, and the ability to make that available for business meetings and conferences makes for a truly memorable experience aboard the Blue Jewel. We look forward to hosting many more incredible charter functions, fabulous trips and fantastic business gatherings.”

As is commensurate with The Blue Train, the interior of the Observation Car has been tastefully designed, continuing the genius of interior designers at Wilson & Associates. It is classic, sophisticated and luxurious without compromising function, featuring mute gold tones and rich blue hues. The fixtures include polished, birch solid-wood panelling with wide double glazed window panels that offer clear multidirectional views of the landscape as the train traverses. Two plush wingback chairs are placed at the tail end of the train, to comfortably ensconce the guests as they take in the glorious view. In the middle of the car, on either side are three intimate seating coves of short leatherback tub chairs coupled with high gloss solid wood tea tables. At the entrance, just before the automated birch solid-wood door with laser printed glass, are six four-chair settings with tables, perfect for small group seating over a light gourmet meal or fine beverage.

The new Observation Car can also be converted into a conference room for business meetings and events. For this, high-back leather padded chairs with The Blue Train insignia carved on the top of the back wooden frame, along with high gloss birch solid-wood tables are made available. This stunning conference set up is complete with plug points, audio-visual set up, that includes a projector and screen.

]]>A woman was shot dead and a man was critically wounded in a shooting incident at a minibus taxi rank shop in Berea in Durban on Sunday morning, paramedics said.

Netcare 911 paramedics responded at 8.35am to reports of a shooting at a shop at the Warwick minibus taxi rank on Canongate Road, Berea, Netcare 911 spokesman Shawn Herbst said.

It appeared that a woman was shot dead and a man was shot and critically wounded. He was treated on the scene by an advanced life support paramedic and once stabilised was rapidly transported to hospital for further treatment. The circumstances surrounding the shooting were unknown and police were investigating, Herbst said.